John Lennon art exhibit stops in Ogunquit next weekend

While the late John Lennon famously expressed the spirit of peace and love through his music, he conveyed those values — to the surprise of some — through artwork as well.

Steve Bodnar

While the late John Lennon famously expressed the spirit of peace and love through his music, he conveyed those values — to the surprise of some — through artwork as well.

Similar to the songs he wrote, Lennon mostly by way of simple ink drawings created an ease of understanding for his audience, said his widow, Yoko Ono.

"Through the artwork he's communicating with people and inspiring them and encouraging them, saying, 'you can do it, too,'" said Ono during a phone interview from New York City on Aug. 18. "His artwork is the total opposite of being elitist."

Whether Lennon — a member of the legendary rock band, The Beatles — was drawing a portrait of Ono and himself, or a doodle of a playful animal for his son, Sean Lennon, the pieces aren't the type of work one may expect to find in traditional art galleries, Ono said.

But a traveling exhibit perhaps is a different story.

Next weekend, residents and visitors in Ogunquit will get the chance to experience Lennon's work themselves.

A gallery of about 100 pieces of Lennon's works, which range from limited-edition reproduction serigraphs and lithographs to copper etchings, will be on display Aug. 28-30 at the Dunaway Center.

In some instances, Ono puts her own twist on some of Lennon's images, like adding art and color, according to the show's catalog.

The artwork is presented by Ono as part of a traveling exhibit of Lennon's work called "Come Together."

The show has been hitting the road for more than 15 years and typically sets up in about 20 communities each year. The pieces range from $200 up to $20,000, and the images on display date from the 1960s all the way to Lennon's death in 1980.

Ono's gallery in New York City gallery, Bag One Arts, Inc., works in conjunction with Legacy Fine Art & Productions to put on the show, which raises money for local charities.

Caring Unlimited, a nonprofit service for survivors of domestic violence, will benefit from all donations made at the door of the Ogunquit event.

The event typically draws around 5,000 people and raises anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 for local charities, said Rudy Siegel, a producer with Legacy.

A wide range of viewers, from Beatles and Lennon fans to those just interested in seeing easy-to-understand art, typically attends the show, Siegel said.

"His message was relevant 45 years ago, and that message is still relevant today; and that's what's so beautiful about it," he said.

"Come Together" was last exhibited July 31 and Aug. 1-2 in Rehoboth Beach, Del., at CAMP Rehoboth, a gay and lesbian community center.

Despite torrential weather that weekend along the Delaware coast, it was apparent those who attended the show took Lennon's message to heart, said Steve Elkins, executive director of CAMP Rehoboth.

"That whole peace and love thing traveled out onto the streets even though it was raining," he said. "People were splashing around in the rain and having a good time."

Separate from "Come Together," Ono is currently exhibiting a show in Manhattan called "John Lennon: The New York City Years."

It's an exclusive selection of "rare artifacts, films and photos" regarding Lennon during his time in New York. The imagery of the show has been cited as controversial — some relating to Lennon's death in New York City, where he was shot outside the building in which he lived.

"Come Together" is an exhibit strictly of the work of Lennon and collaborative works with Ono.

Of the traveling exhibit, Ono said, it's the imagery of family, of people, children, faces, and animals that people get.

Simple, yet meaningful, she said.

"He was a very unusual artist and musician in that sense," Ono said. "His work communicated with a very wide world. ...; It communicated with people in many, many ways, and sometimes other artists don't get that."

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